The 12th annual Mississippi Book Festival is coming to Jackson later this month with another day chock-full of all things literature.
The book fest brings readers from across the country for author panels, book signings, workshops, and more. Last year, more than 23,000 readers visited the festival to take part in all that the Mississippi Book Festival has to offer.
This year’s festival will take place Saturday, Sept. 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the state capitol building and Galloway United Methodist Church. The best part? It’s free. The only thing visitors have to worry about dishing out cash for are food, drinks, and whatever books might catch their eye.
For a general overlook on the day, the festival will feature vendors and authors selling books on Author’s Alley, which will include live music to serenade guests meeting local authors and purchasing their books. At both the capitol and Galloway, over 50 panels and workshops will be held to give readers insight into the mind of a writer and to help hone their own craft. In addition, family-friendly events will be held at both locations for kids and teenagers to enjoy and grow their love for books
Panel and book-signing schedule
Kicking things off in the first panel of the day will be one of the Mississippi Book Festival’s eight featured panelists, Deesha Philyaw, at 9:30 a.m. in the capitol. Philyaw is a fiction writer and podcast host who is currently working to develop multiple TV shows based on her short fiction works. Philyaw’s panel will discuss her debut novel, “The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman.” Afterward, she will be signing her book at 11 a.m. The panel will be moderated by Natchez-born writer Jerid Woods.
Also at 9:30 in Galloway, “Saturday Night Live” star and two-time Emmy Award winner Kate McKinnon will have her own panel. The actress and writer will discuss the third book in her children’s book trilogy, “The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science.” Book three is titled “The Jungle of Carabanana” and will be discussed with moderator and Mississippi Arts Commission Executive Director David Lewis. McKinnon will be at the book signing tent at 11 a.m.
Mychal Threets is next up at 10:45 a.m. in Galloway. Threets is a librarian and children’s literacy advocate who currently works with PBS KIDS. Threets also hosts the beloved and revived show “Reading Rainbow.” During his panel, he will discuss his children’s book, “I’m So Happy You’re Here.” He will be signing the book at 12:15 p.m. Author Margaret McMullan will moderate the panel.
Andrew McCarthy is the only featured panelist to appear on two separate panels, with two different times at the book signing tent. McCarthy is the author of four New York Times bestselling memoir books. His first panel will take place at noon and will discuss his latest book, “Who Needs Friends: An Unscientific Examination of Male Friendship Across America,” alongside Pass Christian documentary filmmaker Patrick O’Connor as moderator. His second panel will discuss memoirs at 2:45 p.m. McCarthy will sign his book at 1:45 and 4:15 p.m.
At 1:30 p.m., George Saunders will discuss his second novel. Saunders is a MacArthur Fellow who has published two novels, four collections of short stories, a novella, a book of essays, and an award-winning children’s book. He will discuss his latest fiction book, “Vigil,” alongside moderator Todd Doughty, a publishing executive at Knopf Doubleday. Afterward, he will be signing copies of the book at 3 p.m.
Arguably the most prominent name at this year’s Mississippi Book Festival is Rick Ross. The Clarksdale native is a rapper, songwriter, entrepreneur, and founder of Maybach Music Group, as well as a New York Times bestselling author. His panel will be at 2:45 p.m. and will focus on his memoir, “Renaissance of a Boss: Notes from a Creative Reawakening.” Ross will sign copies of his book afterward at 4:15 p.m. Book influencer Cree Myles will moderate the panel.
Lastly is Belle Burden. Burden is a pro bono immigration attorney who specializes in juvenile cases. In her panel, she will be discussing her New York Times bestselling book, “Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage.” Burden will sign her book at 5:15 p.m. McMullan will also moderate Burden’s panel.